Saturday, April 25, 2009

IF:Drive-In Theater

Parenting tips #47 from the 1970's: I remember in my youth the family loading up in our station wagon and going to the drive-in. We saw such classics as Tentacle about a giant octupus...I remember in one of the first scenes a baby stroller being there one second and then the next it gone with a woman screaming...the movie ended with some guy releasing his trained killer whales and they eventually killed the giant octopus. The second feature was (not sure of the name...Squirms perhaps) about radioactive worms that were eating people. I remember a scene where a guy turned on a shower and worms poured out of the shower head and started eating through the guy's cheeks. You don't get high quality entertainment like that these days....Strangely enough I only remember making it through that one double feature. Well years later I found out the reason...a favorite secret of overworked parents was to put cough medicine (which in them days I'm guessing was pretty much straight alcohol) in the sippy cups mixed with juice...the result was a pretty quick trip to la la land for all of us kids. It is amazing that any of us made it out alive but I have to admit, kids were a lot tougher and easier to handle than the modern variety...so it all couldn't have been that bad.

And the Mole is finished!!!

(click to enlarge)This is Doc Minceworm...a fraud. The idea here is that as he 'treats' patients he and his critters rob them blind...and they are none the wiser. I posted some of the development earlier but plan on throwing it all in to one post sooner or later...I scanned and paneled the item together which is about 15x20 in size. Some of the subtle shading was lost a bit but trying the photography route made it too dark and I couldn't adjust the levels out.

The good Dr Minceworm is indeed a fabulous creation. I do the like the multiple textures and loads of detail in this from cross-stitching on clothing, critters, rats, and the treatment of material. A splendiferous effort, and one you should be proud of. I'm positive he stands tall amongst other molemen!!!

Man, I wish I had the patience to work so long on a project! I guess unlike most kids these days, I was never diagnosed with ADD (cymbal crash). Just joking, really. Honestly though, this is quite amazing Brian, and the illo and story above is a hoot. I remember my parents took me to the drive-in often. My first movie experience was Star Wars, and it was truly unforgettable. I was six, and I don't think any move experience has surpassed it since. I do recall the film to follow being Heavy Metal, to which my dad, after the first hint of nudity (cartoon boobs) , told my four year old brother and I to close our eyes, as he hit the gas pedal and tore outta there. Needless to say, I was kind of bummed about that.

Amusing interpretation of theatre!! Congrats on completing Dr Minceworm - it's the most amazing illustration - every inch is fascinating but I think my favourite part is the little lizard on the top shelf!

doc is a MASTERPIECE. you are the draftman king overlord (woahhh...that was a bit much!) but yooooooo get the idea. :)) truly. i'm still geeking out over his buttons! annnd, we had a suburban station wagon...they'd load us up on a friday night, coloring books, crayons, pillows, in the back (car seat? seat belt? what's THAT?) and we'd hang out while my parents watched james bond marathons. wow...those were really cool summers! ty for shaking the memory tree, bb!

aannnnd, as always, thanks SO much for the visits and great comments to my blogs. :))